At 15:10, the Eastern Commissioner observes Russian propagandistic influences in the eastern region.
14:48 Shortage of Ammo After Kursk Advance Blamed for Russian Gains in East Ukraine
As quoted by the "Financial Times", a Ukrainian commander claims that the Russian advance in eastern Ukraine is partly due to Kiev redirecting resources towards the north. His troops are once again forced to ration ammunition for their weapons - a first since the US Congress halted aid to Ukraine. The allocated ammunition was meant for troops fighting in the Russian region of Kursk.
14:26 Moscow Analyst: Kursk Offensive May Show Power Shift in Kremlin
Moscow analyst Rainer Munz suggests that the Ukrainian push into Kursk could speed up or at least expose a generational shift within the Moscow power structure. However, he stresses that the Russian president's power remains unchallenged.
14:01 Post-Russian Attack on Ternopil: Authorities Warn of High Chlorine Levels in Air
Following a Russian attack on an industrial site in Ternopil, western Ukraine, local officials warn of elevated chlorine levels in the atmosphere. According to the Kyiv Independent, Oksana Chaichuk, head of the regional health center, advises residents to limit outdoor exposure and keep windows shut. The chlorine concentration in the air is reportedly between four and ten times higher than usual, Chaichuk stated at a press conference. The alleged target of the strike was a fuel and lubricant depot, with a fire erupting at an unnamed facility. No casualties or injuries were reported.
13:39 Russian Forces Take Control of Town of New York in Donetsk
Russian troops, according to the Russian defense ministry, have seized the town of New York in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine. The troops have wrested control of "one of the largest settlements in the vicinity of Torez, an essential logistics center of Nowgorodskoje," the ministry said, using the name given during Soviet times. The name "New York," derived from German settlers, was changed to Nowgorodskoje in 1951 but was restored to its original name in 2021 due to efforts by Ukrainian activists. The town, about 6 kilometers south of Torez, has been under Russian attack for weeks.
13:01 Military Intelligence: Russian Defector Spied for Ukraine, Wounded Commander
A Russian defector has been spying for Ukraine and wounded his commander, as reported by Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR). The Kyiv Independent cites a reporter who attended a press conference, stating that the man, codenamed "Silver," defected as part of a joint operation between the "Freedom of Russia" Legion and Ukraine's military intelligence project "I Want to Live." Prior to fleeing, the soldier injured his commander with a grenade in the city of Ocheretyne, Donetsk Oblast. The soldier contacted the Legion in early 2024 after witnessing unlawful activities by his unit and commanders, according to military intelligence. Subsequently, "Silver" privately supplied the Legion with information on the positions of Russian troops and military strategies.
12:23 Ukrainian Parliament Advances Bill to Ban Russia-Affiliated Church
Ukraine is moving forward with a ban on the Russia-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Parliament in Kyiv has approved a bill to prohibit the Russian Orthodox Church from operating on Ukrainian soil initially. A comprehensive ban on religious organizations linked to the Russian Orthodox Church is being sought, but court approval is still required. Kyiv criticizes the Ukrainian minority church as a base for Russian influence in the country and advocates for its involvement in the invasion of Ukraine.
11:51 Over 500 Firefighters Battle Oil Depot Fire in Russian Rostov
More than 500 firefighters are fighting a massive fire at an oil depot in the southern Russian region of Rostov, entering its third day. The fire, covering 10,000 square meters and engulfing several diesel tanks, was allegedly caused by a Ukrainian drone attack, as per the head of Proletarsk, Waleri Gornitsch, reported by TASS. There is no risk of explosion, no harm to individuals, and no evacuations required, he emphasized. Four firefighting aircraft and over 520 firefighters are engaged. Due to the intense heat, vehicles cannot access the fire, necessitating the use of aircraft. At least 41 firefighters have been injured, with 18 hospitalized so far.
11:08 Industrial Facility in Ukrainian Ternopil Suffers Bombings
In the latest Russian bombardment of Ukraine's energy infrastructure, an industrial facility was targeted, with a fuel tank hit in the Ternopil region, reports authorities. Ukrainian TV displayed enormous black smoke trails rising above Ternopil, with local officials advising residents to stay indoors. Nearly 100 firefighters are handling the blaze, with the situation under control, according to the Ternopil Regional Administration.
Vladimir Putin is acting like a "spineless fraud," asserts Boris Bondarev, a previous Russian diplomat, in a visitor opinion piece for ntv.de. Putin's portrayal of being capable of overpowering any adversary has been compromised by the initiation of Russia's intrusion into Ukraine. The prompt seizure within a few days did not materialize. Moreover, Moscow appeared totally taken aback and overwhelmed by Ukraine's assault on the Russian region of Kursk. "Putin falters in the face of a genuine threat and doesn't know what to do. He's not even acting like a cornered animal prepared to battle with all its might, but like a spineless fraud," remarks Bondarev. The ex-diplomat, who defected from the Putin regime in protest against the war, also harshly criticizes Western politicians for their stance of forbidding the use of delivered weapons on Russian territory. "One must confront Putin with forceful language." He disregards the West's fear of "escalation" as unwarranted. "The 'escalation' is already underway - Putin's opponent has invaded Russian territory! But he's not reacting to it at all," writes Bondarev.
10:13 Ukraine: Five Civilians Killed and Over 20 Injured in Russian Attacks
Over the past 24 hours, five civilians have lost their lives and at least 22 have been hurt, including a child, in Russian attacks in Ukraine, regional authorities reported early in the day, as reported by "Kyiv Independent".
09:37 Russian Fuel Depot in Flames: Satellite Image Shows Scale of Fire
Ukraine attacked a substantial fuel depot in Proletarsk in southern Russia with drones on Sunday morning. Even a day subsequent, the fire wasn't extinguished, with more than 40 firefighters wounded, according to regional authorities. Satellite images also show the extent of the blaze:
Ukraine has attacked various Russian refineries and oil facilities with drones in recent months. This is to render it more challenging for enemy troops to get fuel and to take a bite out of Russia's oil industry revenues.
09:16 Kyiv: Over 1300 Russian Soldiers "Knocked Out" in a Day
Russia's personnel losses remain high, according to official figures from Kyiv. Within a day, 1330 Russian soldiers are said to have perished or become incapacitated. According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, a total of 601,800 Russian soldiers have been "knocked out" since the beginning of the war in February 2022. The ministry announced in its daily report on Russian losses that the enemy had, among other things, lost 5 more tanks (8518). Since the outset of the Russian invasion, Ukraine has counted more than 16,500 armored vehicles and more than 13,800 drones that are no longer in the possession of the Russian military or have been destroyed. These figures cannot be independently verified. Moscow remains mum about its own losses in Ukraine.
08:47 Biden Defends Ukraine's Resistance: No President Should Kneel to Despots
"No president should bow to despots," stated Joe Biden. "Putin thought he'd capture Kyiv in three days," the U.S. President said on the first night of the Democratic Party convention, as reported by the "Kyiv Independent". "Three years later, Ukraine is still free." The Democrat contrasted his record as a backer of a robust NATO and a free Ukraine to that of former President Donald Trump, who praised Russian President Vladimir Putin. "No commander-in-chief should ever bow to despots," said Biden.
08:31 Russia Launches Overnight Air Strikes on Ukraine
Russia has again targeted Ukraine with overnight air strikes, according to the Ukrainian military. Nine regions in the center, north, and south of the country were hit, with three missiles and 25 drones shot down, the Ukrainian air force reported on Telegram. This was the fifth missile attack on Kyiv this month, the military explained. There were 41 air raid alerts in the capital in August. Just yesterday, the military said it had repelled a drone attack on Kyiv.
07:52 Military Administration: Russian Missile Attack on Kyiv Repelled - No Damage Reported So Far
Russian troops attacked Kyiv from the north once more this morning, the city's military administration reported on Telegram. "Preliminary information indicates that the enemy attacked the capital of Ukraine from the north, likely using ballistic missiles like the Iskander. This was the fifth missile attack on Kyiv this month!" the message said. The missiles were reportedly destroyed by air defense forces at the city's outskirts. So far, there are no reported damages or losses in Kyiv.
07:38 Belarus: Lukashenko Sends Additional Troops and Planes to Border with Ukraine
Belarus has deployed additional air defense troops and planes to its border with Ukraine, General-Major Andrei Lukyanovich, commander of the Belarusian air defense forces, announced, as reported by the Ukrainian newspaper "Kyiv Independent". This comes shortly after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko stated that he had sent a third of the country's army to the border this summer. Lukashenko claimed that the troop buildup along the border was due to a misunderstanding between Belarus and Ukraine. Lukyanovich said that the Belarusian military had deployed planes, anti-aircraft missiles, and radio electronic units to the border. Kyiv has not confirmed Lukyanovich's claims about additional Belarusian troops and weapons at the border. The Ukrainian state border guard service reported over a week ago that there were no signs of troop buildup along the border with Belarus despite Lukashenko's order.
06:54 Zelensky: Second Peace Talk in Ukraine Before Year's End Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has directed his diplomats to arrange for the second Peace Talk in Ukraine to happen this year. The president spoke during a gathering of foreign diplomatic representatives in Ukraine, focusing on "War Diplomacy: Resilience, Firepower, Victory," as reported by the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform, referencing data from the Presidential Office. In Zelensky's view, the first summit was a phenomenal achievement for Ukraine. He expressed gratitude to everyone involved in making the summit a reality. Now, preparations are underway for the second Peace Talk, which must occur this year. "We must do everything possible to make this happen. We must expand the circle of supporters for the communique from the first summit's outcome," Zelensky stated.
06:22 Russia Launches Another Aerial Assault on Kyiv According to Ukrainian sources, Russia launches continuous nighttime attacks on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. Air defense systems were activated in the early morning hours to thwart another Russian air attack on Kyiv, as reported by the Ukrainian capital's military administration via Telegram. Witnesses reported experiencing explosions loud enough to indicate an activation of air defense systems.
05:11 Kyiv Reports Several Drone Attacks Away from the Front There were once again several drone attacks reported last night in various Ukrainian regions located a significant distance from the front. Air defense systems responded in multiple Ukrainian regions, such as Sumy, Poltava, Kherson, and Mykolaiv, in addition to protecting the capital, Kyiv, according to air defense. Residents were urged to seek shelter. Currently, no damage has been reported.
02:23 US Stands Firm with Kyiv - Discussion on Kursk Offensive Despite the Ukrainian offensive in the Russian region of Kursk, the US remains resolved in supporting Kyiv. US President Joe Biden pledged to continue backing Kyiv and maintaining their support for as long as necessary, according to a spokesperson from the US Department of Defense. The US continues its focus on aiding Kyiv by delivering military equipment. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin reassured his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov of ongoing support during a call. During their conversation, Austin gained additional insight into Ukraine's objectives for the counteroffensive.
01:07 Germany Delivers Another Iris-T System Germany has put together an additional weapons package for Ukraine. According to Germany's Ministry of Defense overview page, the latest shipment includes, among other things, a third Iris-T SLS air defense system. Furthermore, it includes multiple artillery rounds, drones, an Armored Recovery Vehicle 2 (Bergepanzer 2), and numerous rifles with appropriate ammunition.
00:20 Zelensky: Kursk Offensive's Largest Success in Capturing Russian Soldiers The Ukrainian offensive in the Russian region of Kursk was the highest success in capturing Russian soldiers since the beginning of the conflict, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. In his discussion with Ukrainian diplomats, he mentioned that these soldiers would later be exchanged for Ukrainian soldiers currently being held captive. So far, it's estimated that Russia has captured more Ukrainian soldiers than Ukraine has captured Russian soldiers during the conflict.
22:21 Chechen Commander: Fallen Kursk Fighters "Find Peace in Paradise" Chechen commander Apti Alaudinow, who fights for Russia, encouraged Russian conscripts to join the battlefront in the Kyiv Independent. He stated that the soldiers lost in the Kursk region would "find peace in heaven."
21:58 Zelensky: Incursion Has Invalidated Russia's Red Line Concept Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky explained that the unrealistic nature of the Ukrainian incursion caused it to remain a secret, as reported by the Pravda newspaper. Recalling events just a few months ago, many nations warned that the incursion would cross Russia's most critical red line. However, the concept of Russia's red lines "collapsed" near Bucha, according to Zelensky.
21:38 Lithuania Begins Construction of German Troop Support Base Lithuania is building a military support base for German troopers. Upon completion by the end of 2027, the site will have the capacity to house up to 4,000 German soldiers. This marks the first permanent deployment of the Bundeswehr overseas since World War II. Germany pledged to station troops in a NATO and EU member bordering Russia last year. Estimates for construction costs total over one billion euros, according to Lithuanian Defense Minister Raimundas Karoblis.
21:15 Czech President: Potential NATO Membership for Partially Occupied Ukraine Czech President Petr Pavel sees a chance for Ukraine to join NATO, even with parts of its land under Russian occupation. He anticipates that Ukraine will negotiate peace with Russia in the coming years, according to the news site "Novinky." Such an arrangement could allow Russia to retain a portion of Ukrainian territory indefinitely without integrated democratic nations acknowledging border shifts. In this scenario, Ukraine might be integrated into NATO based on the territory it currently controls. This was demonstrated when Germany joined NATO in 1955 while still partially under Soviet occupation.
20:36 Pokrovsk Holds onto OptimismThe administrative body overseeing the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk grapples with the looming threat of encroaching Russian soldiers: "They're making their way towards the outskirts of Pokrovsk. It's out in the open, can't deny it," commented the leader of the info department to the "Washington Post". "Maybe things will shift in our favor somehow - we're praying the adversary halts their advance near Pokrovsk and our troops manage to push them back," she shared. If Pokrovsk succumbs, it would represent the largest urban center to fall under Russian control since Bachmut in May 2023.
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The European Union has expressed concern over the Russian advance in eastern Ukraine, as resources meant for the conflict in the Kursk region were redirected to other fronts.
In light of the Ukrainian push into Kursk, the European Union is considering strengthening its support for Ukraine, recognizing the potential power shift in Moscow's leadership.
